The recent mud-slinging match with two of the country’s most renowned cricketers has finally come to an end. The week long fiery exchange of allegations and counter allegations between former Pakistan captains Javed Miandad and Shahid Afridi came to a halt after meeting at a mutual friend’s place in Karachi.
Although the development is a welcome move as both had indulged in a series of allegations and counter allegations in a public spat that was televised extensively by media outlets. The feud between the two superstars dates back to last year when Javed Miandad had used rather unruly language to criticize the statement of Shahid Afridi in which the star all rounder had said that he ‘receives more love in Indian than Pakistan’. However the feud was reignited recently when Shahid Afridi talking to journalist claimed that Miandad’s head is always turned by ‘money’. The former middle order batsman was aggressive in his reply and accused Shahid Afridi of fixing matches and went to the extent of saying that he has proof of Afridi’s fixing. The public spat and allegations were given extensive coverage by local media but it was also discussed in the international media. Pakistan cricket had to face an embarrassing period after the 2010 spot fixing scandal and only of late has seemed to come out of that disastrous period. With the latest feud between the two former captains Pakistan’s reputation has again been harmed. The Pakistan Cricket Board irrespective of the ‘happy ending’ should launch an investigation into the allegations. The altercation and the subsequent settlement have set a bad precedent.
The Pakistan Cricket Board must investigate the matter; it cannot be simply brushed aside.